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mind talking till you’ve had your dinner. I can tell by the
look of you that you’re just full up with speeches, but they’ll
keep.’
Marilla had something to tell Anne, but she did not tell it
just then for she knew if she did Anne’s consequent excite-
ment would lift her clear out of the region of such material
matters as appetite or dinner. Not until Anne had finished
her saucer of blue plums did Marilla say:
‘Mrs. Barry was here this afternoon, Anne. She wanted
to see you, but I wouldn’t wake you up. She says you saved
Minnie May’s life, and she is very sorry she acted as she did
in that affair of the currant wine. She says she knows now
you didn’t mean to set Diana drunk, and she hopes you’ll
forgive her and be good friends with Diana again. You’re
to go over this evening if you like for Diana can’t stir out-
side the door on account of a bad cold she caught last night.
Now, Anne Shirley, for pity’s sake don’t fly up into the air.’
The warning seemed not unnecessary, so uplifted and
aerial was Anne’s expression and attitude as she sprang to
her feet, her face irradiated with the flame of her spirit.
‘Oh, Marilla, can I go right now—without washing my
dishes? I’ll wash them when I come back, but I cannot tie
myself down to anything so unromantic as dishwashing at
this thrilling moment.’
‘Yes, yes, run along,’ said Marilla indulgently. ‘Anne
Shirley—are you crazy? Come back this instant and put
something on you. I might as well call to the wind. She’s
gone without a cap or wrap. Look at her tearing through
the orchard with her hair streaming. It’ll be a mercy if she